Partition made of foam material

ABSTRACT

A modular structure for enclosing a privacy booth, for example, in restrooms. The modules are integrally molded from plastic material such as high impact polystyrene foam. Shells, webs and fins are integrally molded onto the panel structure and extend generally at right angles to the panel structure thereby providing reinforcement. A door jamb and hinge mounting structures are molded into the modules. Recesses are molded in the module for the locks and hinges. The panels have bifurcated rear ends which may be received in wall brackets. In one embodiment of the invention, two sheets of material, each having ribs on one side, are put together with the ribs abutting to provide a partition structure.

0 United States Patent 1191 1111 3,842,556 Brendgord 1 Oct. 22, 1974PARTITION MADE OF FOAM MATERIAL 3,605,352 9/1971 Ruggles et a1. 52/35,694,9 4 10 1972 [751 inventor: Thmhas Brendgmd, Em, 3,722,1;1 3/1973Gardner 5273 1 [73] Assignee: General Partitions Mfg.

Corporation, Erie, Pa. Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott [22] Filed: Oct.16, 1972 Assistant Exammer-Leshe A. IBraun [21] App]. N0.Z 297,965 57ABSTRACT A modular structure for enclosing a privacy booth, for [52]U.S. Cl. 52/239, 52/34 l i restrooms. The modules are integrally [5 Cl.molded from plastic material uch as impact p Fleld of Search 29, 36,ystyrene foam. Shells, webs and fins are integrally 47, 43 molded ontothe panel structure and extend generally at right angles to the panelstructure thereby providing References Clted reinforcement. A door jamband hinge mounting UNITED STATES PATENTS structures are molded into themodules. Recesses are 1,221,205 4/1917 Moore 52/239 x molded in themodule for the locks and hinges- The 1,259,353 3/1918 Carpenter 52/239Panels have u at d r ar nds which may be re- 2,776,029 1/1957 Hult52/239 X ceived in wall brackets. In one embodiment of the in- 2,882,8354/1959 Buchanan 52/34 X vention, two sheets of material, each havingribs on 3,070,197 12/1962 Musselman 52/656 one side, are put togetherwith the ribs abutting to 3,242,619 3/1966 Parsons id a partitionStructure 3,349,528 10/1967 3,564,788 2/1971 3 Claims, 21 DrawingFigures PAlEmwum-zzmu minim-6 mamanwzz 3.842.556

SHEETS!!! 6 k J 119 L L PARTITION MADE OF FOAM MATERIAL REFERENCE TOPRIOR ART Patents showing the general type of structure disclosed hereinare US. Pat. Nos. 3,010,548 and 2,042,721.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide animproved panel structure.

Another object is to provide a panel structure that is simple inconstruction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient touse.

Another object is to provide panels for partitions made from foammaterial.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of thepanel partition installation using panels according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of one of the panels used in the structure shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an inside view of the door shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the door shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 0 FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the panel.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the outside of the panel shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the assembly shown inFIGS. 10 and 13 taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a typical joint sectionbetween the parts which form the panel shown in FIG. 10 and 13.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.10.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a panel assembly shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a top view of one-half of the panel shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the other half of the panel shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of an end panel shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is an inside view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a top view of the panel shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an end view of the panel shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 21 21 of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular referenceto the drawings, the partition assembly shown in FIG. 1 is of a typeoften found supported in a restroom. The assembly is supported on asidewall A and rear wall B and the room will, of course, have a ceilingto which column 24 may be attached with bracket 25. The panels 11 have arelatively thin wall section supported on the wall B by means ofbrackets 15 which may be fixed to the wall in a manner familiar to thoseskilled in the art. The brackets l4 and 15 have a forwardly extendingflange which is received in slots 16 and 17 which support the panels asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A door 13 is supported by means of pins 35 inholes 32 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9.

The panels 11 are molded in the form of a relatively thin integral body,as indicated in FIG. 3, and the surface or shell may be in the order of41 inch thick. The bodyhas reinforcing webs to add strength. The top hasan integral flange 27 formed by a part folded out and back on itself at19 and 30 as shown in FIG. 9. A similar fold is formed at 22. Theintermediate folded part 22 adds additional strength and acts as ashelf. The panel has a flanged portion 18 as shown in FIG. 3 which ismolded integrally generally at right angles to the main panel portionand this flange 18 forms a spacer panel between the doors. The door stopis fixed to the jamb 18 also shown in FIG. 3. The upper web 27 forms aprivacy shield as well as reinforcing the partition. The upper web 27has the widened portion 19 at the rear and the widened gusset portion 30at the front integrally connected to said panel and to said flange 18and an intermediate narrow portion 28 which forms a graceful curve andadds not only strength but a pleasing appearance to the panel. Anintermediate shelf 22 likewise is formed on the partition as an integralweb with the body of the panel and the shelf 22 is likewise integralwith the vertical webs 31. The shelf 22 may be used upon which to'placearticles while the booth is being occupied. A hook 21 is supported onthe panel 11 for hanging clothing and the like. A suitable filler panel10 may be in the form of a flat sheet by way of a decoration may befixed in place between the lug 37 and the door stop 23 as shown in FIG.3. The door stop 23 is in the form of an angle against which the door 13may swing and which overlies the front edge of the door 13 so that nocrack is exposed, this adds additional privacy.

The upper shelf 30 has an opening in it as does the lower shelf 30through which the column 24 extends. The column 24 may extend entirelythrough from bottom to top as indicated in FIG. 2. It may be attached tothe panel 11 by suitable adhesive and the panel structure can thus besuspended from the ceiling.

As shown in FIG. 4 the door 13 has the holes 32.

therein for receiving hinge pins 35.-Vertical ribs 33 and horizontalribs 34 are formed on the back of the door to reinforce it. The dooritself may be in the range of, for example A inch in thickness. Thecolumns 24 may have the ceiling pads 25 and the floor pads 26 on theirends which are of a highly conventional type.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. through 17, the panels110 are made up of two half panels 111 and 112. The door 113 issupported by a suitable hinge pin 127 in the door receiving grooves 128.The door may swing into engagement with the door stop 123. A suitableopening is formed in the web structure of the upper flange 118 of panel110 and the lower flange 119 through which the columns 124 pass. A web128' is formed above and below the door and web 129' is formed on theopposite side as shown in FIGS. and 16. The door may rest on these websand hinge pins may extend through them. Suitable ribs 122 are formed onthe opposed sides of the panel which engage each other when the panel isin position. The rear end of the panel will be relatively thin, as shownin FIG. 13, and a U-shaped bracket 114 may be attached to the wall andreceive the two rear ends of the panel halves.

The end panel 115 may be attached to the outside of the half panel 111at the end of the row of booths.

The flanges 118 may be received in the I-l-shaped extrusion 156 as shownin FIGS. 12 and 14.

The end partial door jamb may be provided by the member shown in FIG.11. It is in the cross sectional shape of a lower case letter h havingtwo legs 130 which have a minimum draft as indicated for easy removalfrom the mold. The legs 130 have a closure member 131 on their end andthey are received in a U-shaped extrusion 132 which may be fixed to theside walls of the room. The door 113 will swing against the flange 136,as shown, and the flange 136 overlies the end of the door and providesadditional privacy.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 18, section 21-21 issimilar to section 33 in the embodiment of FIG. 2. The panel is made ofmolded foam high impact polystyrene or the like approximately inch thickand has the curved section similar to that in FIG. 3 and has upper ribs231 and lower ribs 232 which form shelves as shown in FIG. 3. In FIGS.18 and 19, an intermediate shelf 233 is shown which acts as a rib. Theseribs reinforce the panel and have the vertical panel portion 211 whichhas the top flange 227 and the bottom flange 228 disclosed generally atright angles to the intermediate part 211. The flange end portions 219and 230 and the curved intermediate portions 240 are as shown. Slots 217are suitable to receive brackets for attaching the panel to a wall andthe front flange 219 forms a support for door hinges as in the other twoembodiments.

It will be noted from the foregoing that the panels disclosed provide anaesthetic, economical and acoustically desirable structure.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical form but the structure shown is capable of modification withina range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is tobe understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A partition comprising integral panels,

said panels being relatively thin wall sections and having a flangeintegrally attached at their front edges,

said flange extending generally at right angles to said wall sectionsand forming a door jamb,

means for hinging a door to the distal edge of said flange,

said flange having a recess receiving the back part of said door,

and gusset means integrally attached to said flange and to the upperedge of said wall sections disposed generally perpendicular to saidflange and integrally attached to said wall sections and perpendicularthereto and said flange being generally flush with the upper edges ofsaid wall sections,

and second gusset means underlying said flange and underlying said wallsections, and underlying said door whereby said door is supported.

2. The partition recited in claim 1 wherein a shelf is molded integrallyto said partition along the upper edge thereof and extending generallyat right angles thereto,

and a shelf is molded to an intermediate part of said wall sectionbetween the top and bottom thereof and extending a substantial distancefrom one side thereof to the other.

3. The partition recited in claim 1 wherein said upper shelf has anopening therein for receiving a column for supporting said partition,

and means on the rear edge of said module for supporting said partitionon a wall.

1. A partition comprising integral panels, said panels being relativelythin wall sections and having a flange integrally attached at theirfront edges, said flange extending generally at right angles to saidwall sections and forming a door jamb, means for hinging a door to thedistal edge of said flange, said flange having a recess receiving theback part of said door, and gusset means integrally attached to saidflange and to the upper edge of said wall sections disposed generallyperpendicular to said flange and integrally attached to said wallsections and perpendicular thereto and said flange being generally flushwith the upper edges of said wall sections, and second gusset meansunderlying said flange and underlying said wall sections, and underlyingsaid door whereby said door is supported.
 2. The partition recited inclaim 1 wherein a shelf is molded integrally to said partition along theupper edge thereof and extending generally at right angles thereto, anda shelf is molded to an intermediate part of said wall section betweenthe top and bottom thereof and extending a substantial distance from oneside thereof to the other.
 3. The partition recited in claim 1 whereinsaid upper shelf has an opening therein for receiving a column forsupporting said partition, and means on the rear edge of said module forsupporting said partition on a wall.